"Mahle 515" does anyone know what they are?

[starbiscuit]

Hello all,

Just going through the process of putting case savers in my 1600 SP, having found 4 lower studs pulled (2 on each side)

Surprisingly my pistons and bores are in really good nick.

Possibly explained by the barrels being etched with "Mahle 515", from which I suppose they are not OE, because there is no VAG stamp, nor anything like a VW part number.

Does anyone know what they are? Interweb search wasn't helpful.
They have a seam running vertically through the fins each side of the barrel. Does that mean they are cast not forged?
I don't have measuring equipment accurate enough to tell which of the many different sizes it might be. Certainly not to within 1mm.

If they are good quality and/or exotic in size, I might keep them longer than if they are cheap or nasty or stock capacity.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Robert Parry]

Mahle made engine components for VW so they are OEM Grade. The barrels are cast hence the ridge, they are cast iron. The pistons can be Cast or Forged, however VW never used Forged pistons on air cooled engines. Clean a piston crown, the size should be stamped on it. Robert

 

[starbiscuit]

Yep. Under the crud: 85.45
Stock size, then.

Oh well. They'll do for now.